Month: January 2016

Art from the Oceans: Trash to Treasure

Published by

I recently came across an article on Design Milk by Nanette Wong that showcases artwork by the company Studio Swine. Before even reading the article I was enamored with the pieces showcased in the image gallery- their colors, materials, textures, modernity, sophistication, delicacy and boldness. At first glance I thought that these items were encrusted with semi-precious stones, made of marble and malachite and solid 24 karat gold. My brain jumped to thinking about how I would love to adorn my home with one of these treasures…yet my reasoning urged that a “price upon request” was inevitable. My amazement and wonder about how these specimens came to be soon overtook my previous focus of having one them to beautify my abode. Studio Swine set out on a 1,000 nautical mile trash collecting expedition- from the Azores to the Canaries -to sweep the seas for plastic refuse. With their plastic hauls they created the luxurious objects you see below. North Pacific Gyre, 2015  Sea plastic, green abalone shell, brass, rope, shackle South Atlantic Gyre, 2015 Sea plastic, gold plated steel, brass, rope, sandblasted glass Indian Ocean Gyre, …

Best Places to Stay for an Edgartown Getaway

Published by

Last week I was asked by Luxury Travel Diary for a list of my top 5 Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard hotels. I was married on the island in June 2013 and my husband has been calling the Vineyard his home away from home since he was a baby. Now that we’re down in D.C. we only make it up to the island 3 or 4 times a year (if we’re lucky), but we look forward to the day when our time spent there will be far more frequent. You can never have too much of a good thing as they say. While Summer might seem far away given that a monster snowstorm is bounding towards the east coast as we speak, I thought it friendly to offer a daydream of sunny days at the beach, lobster bakes, sea breezes and being on “island time”. As I shovel the snow this weekend I’ll be thinking about relaxing by the South Beach shores soon enough. Check out the post here to see my top 5 Edgartown hotel pick.

Taking a Horse Instead of the Highway Along the Pacific Coast

Published by

Around 6 years ago or so my husband and I headed to northern California for an August getaway to escape the heat and humidity of NYC. We began by exploring San Francisco for a few days before renting a car to head toward Monterey and continue along the Pacific Coast Highway. We had shipped our camping gear across the country where it awaited us at our San Fran hotel. The plan was to experience the nature and natural beauty of the northern Pacific coast, camping under the stars steps from the shore. It was an amazing trip that we have hoped to repeat, but instead of our humble tent I’m going to propose The Inn at Newport Ranch for a whole new experience. Located three and a half hours north of San Francisco, the new inn is part of a 2,000 acre coastal cattle ranch with over a mile of oceanfront and panoramic coastal views. With over 20 miles of trails through the redwoods, open meadows and along picturesque ridge tops, the ranch is an idyllic place for …

Vaya a la Playa: Take Me to Tulum

Published by

The cold has finally hit the east coast and it officially feels like winter. It seems as if I brought the arctic winds back home with me from our Moscow adventure. After 10 days of seriously chilly days in Vienna and Russia I had been looking forward to heading home to the mild weather we’d been experiencing, but no such luck. The frosty temps seem to have followed us and now it’s nights by the fireplace and mornings bundling up to face the cold. Luckily we have 6 days in Mexico planned which I am really looking forward to. I don’t want to wish the days away, but the sand and salt air are beckoning. The hubby and I were fortunate enough to be invited by two of our best friends to join them in Tulum at an eco-resort in early April. We’re headed to LUV Tulum. The family owned hotel is comprised of 12 oceanfront rooms and cabanas constructed in the local Mayan style with fabrics and furnishings from the Chiapas highlands. Located between the bio reserve of …